All Week @ THE CHALK FACE
Topical wisdom from one of my most favoritest education books of all-time
We are where we are in public education right now because of you. Yes, you. No, not you, dear reader, but the rest of you. Willful ignorance, it’s called. There was a time when I cared a great deal about the divisions of labor in the education workforce. I wrote this in 2009: Moreover, Sugg […]
A comment on a new report critical of co-locations in NYC, from a co-location insider @dianeravitch @edprogress @eduquity
I am a K teacher in a public school that co-locates with a charter. Our school is at a temporary site on the first and third floors of a building, while the charter is on the second. Although, we share a playground and “cafetorium” on the first floor. My anecdotes could fill volumes on what […]
Dr. Krashen’s Solutions Work! Preempt “summer learning loss” by addressing poverty, and ensuring access to books!
Providing more access to interesting reading material by investing in public libraries and librarians is an excellent way to deal with summer learning loss. — Dr. Stephen D. Krashen Let’s talk about serendipity. This morning at teacher sent me a Haertel paper on the unreliability of Value Added Measures, and I saw a figure in […]
Reflections on Oklahoma’s Repeal of Common Core
The first key reaction to Oklahoma’s defeat of Common Core is best described by a football metaphor. We’re celebrating like we’ve been in the End Zone before – no gloating or trash talk about the touchdown. This is true even though many of us, especially liberal Common Core opponents, haven’t had many political victories in […]
I Now Have a Facebook Page
I now have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bymercedeskschneider The page features my book, A Chronicle of Echoes, and my blog, . As of this writing, my page has 91 likes. I even have my first hashtag: #chronicleofechoes I still have no Twitter account. Twitter moves so fast with its little messages, and I haven’t time to keep up […]
JUN 05
Chicago’s George Schmidt on Martin Koldyke, “Golden Apples,” and School “Turnaround”
On June 4, 2014, I posted this piece by a guest writer, a Chicago area teacher, who has concerns about Martin Koldyke’s “Golden Apples” teacher recognition program. Her concern is that the “Golden Apples” program is a benevolently-disguised, self-serving effort for Koldyke to use teachers to staff his Academy for Urban Leadership “turnaround” schools (AULS). The […]
Why Are So Many More Teachers “Retiring”?
WHY ARE SO MANY MORE TEACHERS “RETIRING”?.Filed under: SHAUN JOHNSON, PHD: Musings from the Chalk Face
JUN 04
A Chicago Teacher Questions Martin Koldyke’s “Golden Apples” Program
A few days ago, a Chicago teacher contacted me to make me aware of a program in Chicago, the “Golden Apple” program, one that supposedly rewards good teachers yet seems more like a front to supply a temporary teaching staff in schools that businessman Martin Koldyke has taken control of in the all-too-common corporate reform […]
Science and Social Studies are Disappearing
Report cards from a district outside of Rochester, New York, have made it painfully clear what school reformers feel about science and social studies. Read the comments for Term 3 in this 5th grade report card. The last thing corporate giants need is kids knowing history or thinking like scientists. Let’s just integrate it all […]
The Damage Done by the “Texas Meteor”
The 2013 NBER paper, “School Accountability, Postsecondary and Attainment,” by Jennifer Jennings, David Deming, Sarah Cohodes, and Christopher Jencks, was initially welcomed as evidence in support of test-driven accountability. Jennings et. al concluded that the Texas test-driven accountability of the 1990s increased student performance of math students, especially those who were at risk of failur
JUN 03
Education in Black and White: Beware the Roadbuilders
Education in Black and White: Beware the Roadbuilders. via Education in Black and White: Beware the Roadbuilders.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical
Kindness as Antidote to Fatalism of “Grit”
Kindness as Antidote to Fatalism of “Grit”. via Kindness as Antidote to Fatalism of “Grit”.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical
JUN 02
Anthony Cody Reviews A Chronicle of Echoes
Anthony Cody spent 24 years working in Oakland schools, 18 of them as a science teacher at a high-needs middle school. A National Board- certified teacher, he now leads workshops with teachers on Project Based Learning. He is the co-founder of the Network for Public Education. With education at a crossroads, he invites you to […]
Invoking “Oliver Rule (Expanded)” for Education Reform Debate
Invoking “Oliver Rule (Expanded)” for Education Reform Debate. via Invoking “Oliver Rule (Expanded)” for Education Reform Debate.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical
Education’S “Open Door” Policy Opened The Door For Corporate Ed Reformers
EDUCATION’S “OPEN DOOR” POLICY OPENED THE DOOR FOR CORPORATE ED REFORMERS.Filed under: SHAUN JOHNSON, PHD: Musings from the Chalk Face
JUN 01
Divided Is Conquered
Guest post by Meg Norris and Teri Sasseville As we watch the political maneuvering in New York from afar, we are terribly disheartened. New York has been the leader in our battle against Common Core from day one. With warriors in 49 other states watching closely, the NY groups seem to have gotten so caught up […]
Founding member of the Goo Goo Dolls Robby Takac is At the Chalk Face
Founding member of the Goo Goo Dolls Robby Takac is At the Chalk Face We hear a lot about the importance of the arts in schools, yet they are typically the first to be cut. Robby Takac has had a great Buffalo-based foundation called Music is Art, working to get music into schools and communities […]
Maxine Greene, Released to a New Landscape
Maxine Greene, Released to a New Landscape. via Maxine Greene, Released to a New Landscape.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical
MAY 31
The NYSUT “Revival”
Originally posted on An Antique Teacher:In light of the reports today that NYSUT is working to strong-arm the Working Families Party (they vehemently deny this is happening) and that NYSUT will remain silent at AFL-CIO endorsements for Andrew Cuomo, I feel it is necessary to revisit the “REVIVAL” that the leadership team elected in…
Education is NOT for Sale in New Mexico (Video)
After New Mexico teachers received their bogus evaluations from the state education department, they decided it’s past time to get loud and active. This group of rank-and-file teachers, parents, and students picketed and protested a three-day training session for principals, where corporate and state leaders were making sure administrators use the teacher evaluation system, TeachScape, with […]
The Privatization of Special Education
Like so much else in education and beyond, we are seeing the familiar pattern of defunding, claiming crisis, and then calling for privatization in special education. This past week in Chicago, our unelected Board of Education recently voted to expand contracts with private, for-profit organizations to meet the growing needs of our children with special needs as […]